“Anointed To Preach, Teach And Heal!”

“Anointed To Preach, Teach And Heal!”(Lk.4:16-22a).
Jesus went to Nazareth, the land of his upbringing, “and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him…”*
Jesus sat down after reading. “The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed of the gracious words that came from his lips.”
The scriptures that was fulfilled in their hearing is that the Spirit of the LORD was on him. He was anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom to prisoners, give sight to the blind, release the oppressed and proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor. Any deviation from the above is either “Food Gospel”, or “Praise Seeking Gospel!”
A good thing speaks for itself. What we have done can only be testified by others. While in prison John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to find out if Jesus was the one he John spoke about or they were to wait for someone else? Jesus replied them, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor…”(Mt.11:1-6).
When a man was asked by a researcher whether he was a Christian, he responded, “If you want to know whether I am a Christian ask my neighbours up and down my street.” Unlike Jesus, all may not speak well of us, – correctly so because of our frailties – but let the majority speak well of us and let them be amazed of the gracious words that come from our lips. Above all, let them go and tell what they hear and see; not what we say we have done.
The threefold ministry of Jesus is preaching, teaching and healing. May the preaching which teaches bring us healing in fulfilment of the promises of God to his children.
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit enable our thoughts, words and deeds to be testimonies of the reign of Christ. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.